Football Wonderkid Scout

Argentine wonderkid Nicolas Gaitán has officially joined Benfica from Boca Juniors on a five-year deal after completing a €8.4 million to the Lisbon based club. The highly rated 22-year old has already been capped by Argentine three times under Diego Maradona. The high transfer fee adds weight to the feeling that Benfica may be willing to cash in on some of their highly valued players as they try to balance their books as well as maintain a team that can compete in the Champions League. Gaitán looks the natural successor to the likely departure of compatriot Angel Di Maria, while David Luiz and striker Oscar Cardozo have also been linked with big moves away from the Estadio da Luz. He becomes the newly crowned Portuguese champions third season of the forthcoming season after already signing Fabio Faria from Rio Alve and fellow Argentine Franco Jara from Benfica from Arsenal. The versatile Gaitán can play on either wing and is also able to operate in the playmaker role or as a second striker, thus giving Benfica coach Jorge Jesus cover for the positions usually occupied by Pablo Aimar and Javier Saviola. Gaitán has been likened to Spain's David Silva and is known for his quick feet, intelligent runs off the ball and creativity. He made his competitive debut for Boca Juniors in a 3-1 win over Arsenal de Sarandi on 1 June 2008. Joining the club at the tender age of 9 years old, Gaitán rose through the youth ranks and put in a number of impressive performances for the youth team. He first came into the spotlight when he scored his first goals for the club came in a 3–0 away win over Huracán on 31 August